RLWC 2017 Qualification - North Atlantic

[Honor James]

USARL chairman, Peter Illfield, who is also US Hawks coach for the two-game Colonial Cup series, is confident that despite their first game defeat to Canada the national side is making progress.

 

Illfield will hand over the reins to Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott for the up-coming Firehouse Subs Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers - Americas in December.

 

One of USA, Canada or Jamaica will qualify for the 2017 World Cup, the Hawks looking to emulate the side from the 2013 global tournament that, against the odds, made the quarter finals.

 

“We will need to step up again if we are going to qualify for our second consecutive World Cup,” said Illfield. “We are only too aware of the improvements that need to be made in just over a month.

 

“Encouragingly, our forwards responding positively to the challenges set by the coaching staff after game one against Canada, showing greater penetration in attack and the back three outside backs scored all 28 of the teams' points.”

 

Illfield added: “Heritage players from Australia have shown an interest and will add some expertise and skill to the squad. English Super League Champions and treble-winning Leeds coach, Brian McDermott, will raise the bar when he takes over coaching responsibilities, which will provide a far more consistent and intense preparation.

 

“McDermott's experience will be vital not only for the World Cup Qualifiers, but will be crucial in the development of rugby league in the US. He will be holding a coaching clinic and the Hawks players can transfer the new knowledge gained to their USARL teammates prior to the 2016 season.”

 

The USA Hawks will play their first match against Jamaica on the 4th of December and will follow it up against Canada on the 12th with both game to be played at Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville.

[Honor James]

The Jamaicans have begun preparations for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers – Americas, comfortable in the fact that they will be classed as underdogs. The Reggae Warriors face hosts USA on December 4th followed by a match up with in-form Canada four days later, both matches in Florida.

 

A scarcity of resources has seen the side play no practice games in the lead up, while their opponents faced each other in September and October in the Colonial Cup. The lack of international games has seen the Jamaicans fall to number 29 in the world rankings, while USA and Canada are 10th and 13th respectively, with the ratings set to change after this series of games.

 

Jamaica head coach Romeo Monteith remains upbeat despite the disadvantages. “Anything can happen over 80 minutes, our players are really motivated as they have never beaten the USA before and we have lost to Canada in our last three meetings,” he said, as preparations began in earnest.

 

“Our aim is to play good rugby, enjoy the games and give a good account ourselves. There is a lot of pride in our camp as our programme here has been steadily improving over the years and we know many people are rooting for us to do well.”

 

Monteith believes the biggest challenge the Warriors will face is a lack of match fitness. “We will definitely be cold in that first game, our combinations and team chemistry will be heavily tested and it’s up to us as the coaching staff to mentally stimulate the team and get them switched on,” he acknowledged.

 

“We have been addressing that with some high pressure training sessions in Kingston and the squad has been responding well. We have over 30 players vying for positions and they are trying to create a competitive environment within the squad to compensate for the lack of actual matches"

[brooza]

USA squad has been named

 

Taylor Alley (Central Florida Warriors)

Luke Barron (Mitchelton Panthers)

Ryan Burroughs (NOVA Eagles)

Sam Carson (Norths Devils QLD Cup)

Casey Clark (Philadelphia Fight)

Jared Frymoyer (Philadelphia Fight)

Rich Henson (Philadelphia Fight)

Andrew Kneisly (Philadelphia Fight)

Roman Lowery (Philadelphia Fight)

Mike Timpano (Philadelphia Fight)

Abe Cohen (New York Knights)

CJ Cortalano (New York Knights)

Kristian Freed (Mitchelton Panthers)

Danny Howard (Wentworthville Magpies)

Steve Howard (Wentworthville Magpies)

Taylor Howden (Mid-West Stockyarders)

Nick Newlin (Atlanta Rhinos)

Mark Offerdahl (London Broncos)

Jon Purnell (Jacksonville Axemen)

Tui Samoa (Young Cherrypickers)

Matt Walsh (Connecticut Wildcats)

Kevin Wiggins (Delaware Black Foxes)

 

 

A nice mix in the squad there, mostly made up of domestic players

[deluded pom?]

I'm surprised the Yanks are putting so much faith in a squad that lost two zip to the Canadians albeit with a couple of heritage players added.

[Farmduck]

I'm not sure there are any heritage players in there. The Howard Bros are Aussies born in the USA. Barron and Freed are both Yanks who came to OZ to play RL and Tui Samoa was born in American Samoa. Sam Carson has been playing in the Qld 20s so I can't find much about him. Offerdahl is the only questionable one. His eligibility seems to be based on residence while playing with Connecticut Wildcats.

[damp squib]

Strange that there are no players from the championship winning Boston 13s team.

[Rage]

Does anybody know if any of the games will be shown live?

[wackojacko]

Jamaica have named a massive train-on squad, with a good number of Championship and Championship 1 players: Alex Brown (Batley Bulldogs)

Wayne Rettie (Batley Bulldogs)
Omari Caro (Bradford Bulls)
Joel Farrell (Dewsbury Rams)
Romaen Campbell (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Stephon Lounds (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Khamisi McMain (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Jermaine Pinnock (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Renaldo Wade (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Ryan Howell (Excelsior Community College)
Owen Linton (Excelsior Community College)
Abevia McDonald (Excelsior Community College)
Chevaughn Bailey (GC Foster College)
Kareem Harris (GC Foster College)
Othniel Holness (GC Foster College)
Ryan Grant (GC Foster College)
Adrian McKenzie (GC Foster College)
Adrian Myers (GC Foster College)
Percival Rose (GC Foster College) 
Ethon Dwyer (Jamaica Defence Force)
Orien Smith (Jamaica Defence Force)
Keschone Stephenson (Jamaica Defence Force)
Hamish Barnes Keighley Cougars)
Ross Peltier Keighley Cougars)
Jode Sheriffe (Keighley Cougars) 
Mo Agoro (Hunslet Hawks)
Richie Barnett (Hunslet Hawks)
Antonio Baker (Mico University College)
Igzio Bynnes (Mico University College)
Fabian Turner (Mico University College)
Joel Simmonds (Mico University College) 
Lamont Bryan (Lescure) 
Joseph Brown (Newcastle)
Demetrius Campbell (Liguanea Dragons)
Adrian Hall (Liguanea Dragons)
Rageem McLean (Liguanea Dragons) 
Daniel Thomas (Oxford RL)
Corey Hanson, (Sheffield Eagles)
Roxroy Alcott (Spanish Town Vikings)
Lemor Ellis (Spanish Town Vikings)
Rajiv Haughton (Spanish Town Vikings)
Reinhardo Richards (Spanish Town Vikings) 
Nathan Campbell University Of Technology)
Marvin Thompson (University Of Technology) 
Shannon Harris (University Of The West Indies)
Ferron Johnson (University Of The West Indies) 
Jahdeek Clarke (Vauxhall Rugby Club)
Omar Jones (Vauxhall Rugby Club)
Sandino Hastings (Vauxhall Rugby Club)
Jade Harrison (Vauxhall Rugby Club)
Tyronie Rowe (Vauxhall Rugby Club)
Brian Hutchinson (Unattached)
Conan Osbourne (Unattached)

[Number 16]

If Jamaica can get even just half of the British-based players turning out in the Qualifiers then for me they're the strongest of the three squads.

[Evil Homer]

I'm not sure there are any heritage players in there. The Howard Bros are Aussies born in the USA. Barron and Freed are both Yanks who came to OZ to play RL and Tui Samoa was born in American Samoa. Sam Carson has been playing in the Qld 20s so I can't find much about him. Offerdahl is the only questionable one. His eligibility seems to be based on residence while playing with Connecticut Wildcats.

Offerdahl holds US citizenship and his father was a member of the US military, this was quite highly publicised during the 2013 WC.

[Farmduck]

I admire their commercial nous in arranging a TV deal although I doubt I'll pay for it.

 

https://www.ginicam.com/rugbyleague/

 

£5 each, buy 2 get one free.

[longboard]

The USA team use crowd funding to raise money for flights to the qualifying games:-

 

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2015/dec/01/usa-rugby-league-players-world-cup-qualifier-fans-campaign